Charlottesville Tomorrow • Topic: Public education

WE MOVED AUG 5, 2022

Public education

2007 Articles

Our public school systems in Charlottesville and Albemarle County are the single biggest line items in our municipal budgets and the stewards of our largest stream of tax funding. Regardless of whether you have kids in public school, you are paying for them, and they are a major contributing factor to your property values. As if that weren’t enough to prioritize intelligent, in-depth coverage of public education, kids are the future of our community and our public schools are the best way to guarantee that they all get the start they deserve.

06.03.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

Virginia just made its biggest investment in school buildings in over a decade. Now, it has to decide how to dole out the money.

Charlottesville City Council will apply for funding. It has budgeted to rebuild Buford Middle School but hasn’t yet budgeted for the overhaul of Walker Elementary. More

Jessie Higgins

@jessiehiggins

jhiggins@cvilletomorrow.org
05.24.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

City Schools will suspend once crucial virtual learning after only 15 students said they want to stay online

As of May, only 67 students were enrolled in CCS Virtual, Katina Otey, the district’s chief academic officer, said. The number of students interested in continuing online next year is lower still — only 15. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org
05.20.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

Hundreds of Buford Middle School students lead the call for an end to violent white supremacy after Buffalo shooting

Seventh-grader Christopher Early, who marched with classmates Friday, said he is afraid. As a Black kid, the shootings left him worried about the chances of a similar tragedy happening again, possibly to him. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org
04.14.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

Charlottesville education union petitions School Board for the right to engage in collective bargaining

The School Board now has until August to decide if it will allow the new union to operate. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org
04.01.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

City Council supports the much-needed Buford Middle School rebuild, but must raise taxes or delay other projects to do it
It’s possible to fund the school renovations without raising taxes — but that could mean postponing things like sidewalk repairs, road paving, and new affordable housing projects. More
Jessie Higgins

@jessiehiggins

jhiggins@cvilletomorrow.org

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org

Jessie Higgins and Tamica Jean-Charles
03.31.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

Charlottesville and Albemarle public schools don’t have enough substitute teachers to cover absences

Teachers and even principals are pitching in to fill the gaps. Schools have also changed the requirements for substitute teachers, increased pay and are looking to increase hiring. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org
03.29.22 Public education 18 MIN READ

Exasperated community members ask: Why must Charlottesville choose between a new middle school and public housing?

“You can’t invest in housing without also investing in schools,” said Shymora Cooper. “The same kids that need housing are the same kids that are going to the schools that need the money.” More

Erin O'Hare

@erinaroo

eohare@cvilletomorrow.org
03.18.22 Public education 7 MIN READ

Even without a mandate, most students in Charlottesville and Albemarle are still wearing masks

Elsa Coffey, a freshman at CHS, noticed some students who stopped wearing their masks on March 1, but quickly went back to masking when they realized they were in the minority. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org
02.25.22 Public education 8 MIN READ

A new law makes masks in public schools optional, so school workers are planning how to honor parent's wishes

Charlottesville City Schools superintendent told community members that while positive cases have been declining in recent weeks, community transmission is still classified as high in the district. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org
01.25.22 Government + politics 5 MIN READ

Charlottesville may soon get the green light to levy a local sales tax for a new middle school. Lawmakers suspect bill will pass House
Virginia's Senate passed bills this week that would allow local governments to use revenue from sales tax increases to fund school construction projects. Lawmakers suspect legislation could pass the House too. More
Charlotte Rene Woods

@charlottewords

cwoods@cvilletomorrow.org

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org

Charlotte Rene Woods and Tamica Jean-Charles
01.20.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

Local school districts brace for possible legal battles as they refuse to enforce Youngkin’s ban on mask mandates

Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to end masking requirements in schools. Local school districts are pushing back. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org
01.13.22 Public education 4 MIN READ

Bus drivers were already in short supply in Albemarle when Omicron hit. Now, the school division is struggling to pick up children

“You can’t strand my kid and not tell me,” said Albemarle County Public Schools parent Amanda Urban. More

Tamica Jean-Charles

@thisistamica

tjeancharles@cvilletomorrow.org

Public education

Jessie Higgins and Tamica Jean-Charles

Charlotte Rene Woods and Tamica Jean-Charles